31/08/2026
The History of Medicine in Ireland 🦠
In 1348, the Black Death arrived in Ireland, leaving devastation in its wake. Among those who witnessed its terrible impact was Friar John Clyn, a Franciscan friar in Kilkenny.
Clyn recorded the plague in his Annals of Ireland, providing one of the rare firsthand accounts of the Black Death in Ireland. His chronicle ends suddenly on 17 June 1349, after he wrote about what he was witnessing on parchment for anyone who might survive to continue his work. His own fate remains unknown, most likely he contracted the plague himself!
From the Black Death to the development of modern medicine, Ireland has a fascinating medical history filled with remarkable people, practices and stories.
Join us for our final historical talk of the season, exploring over a thousand years of Irish medical history, from the early Christian period to the early twentieth century.
📍 Maynooth Castle
📅 Wednesday, 2nd of September
⏰ 12:00pm
🎟️ Free admission — booking recommended
Contact -
📧 [email protected]
📞 (01) 628 6744
💬 Message us here on Facebook.
Visitor Information -
•Please note there are no public toilets on site.
•There is no parking at the castle.
•Paid on-street parking is available nearby.
•Easily accessible by public transport.
•Train: Pearse, Tara Street & Connolly Stations.
•Bus: C3, C4, W6, 139 & 115
•Due to the historic nature of the building, access is limited for visitors with mobility issues.
